Sewing machine lubrication method and system



SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION- METHOD AND SYSTEM Filed 001' 23, 1965 W. WEISZ Oct. 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W VEN'TOR. William Wersz w. WEISZ 3,406,788

SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM Oct. 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. William Weisz g i K S, :4TT0RNEY United States Patent SEWING MACHINE LUBRICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM William Weisz, Rockaway, N.J., assignor to The Singer glornpany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New ersey Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,469 13 Claims. (Cl. 1841) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sewing machine lubricating system in which a pump is provided to maintain oil continuously under pressure independently of the operation of the sewing machine. Control means is provided for initiating and terminating operation of the sewing machine, and valve means is located in the lubricating system and connected to the control means so as to initiate flow of lubricant simultaneously with initiation of operation of the sewing machine.

This invention relates to sewing machine lubrication systems and more particularly to a lubrication system for an intermittently operated industrial sewing machine.

Heretofore, there have been no efficient effective means for lubricating an intermittently operated industrial sewing machine. In those sewing machines in which an oil pump is used, there is an appreciable delay between the time the sewing machine is initially operated and the time oil reaches the points to be lubricated. If a sewing machine is used to sew only a few stitches at a time in intermittent operation, it is possible for the sewing ma chine to run all day without ever receiving a drop of oil. If an intermittently operated sewing machine is continuously lubricated between operating cycles, it will receive more oil than can be effectively removed with the danger that excess oil will collect on the goods to be sewn.

In addition, problems have arisen because of the acceleration and deceleration of the activating means for the pump which cause the pump to produce variable oil pressures. When the oil pressure is too high, there is danger that excess oil will collect on the goods to be sewn. When the oil pressure is too low, the moving parts of the sewing machine suffer.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine in which a lubricant is maintained under pressure independently of the operation of the sewing machine and in readiness for application to the lubricant reception means of the sewing machine simultaneously with initiation of operation of the sewing machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine in accordance with the foregoing object in which lubricant is applied to the lubricant reception means of the sewing machine under a preset constant pressure.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a device which may be used to practice the invention connected to a sewing machine;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the center of the enclosure for the pump shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the internal oil circuit of the pump partialy shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken along the line ice - 55 of FIG. 1 with the internal oil circuit delineated in phantom.

Although a device suitable for practicing the invention is presently to be described in some detail, it is understood that numerous other devices may be equally well suited to practice the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a pump enclosure 10 is removably connected to an end of a transmitter 11 for an industrial sewing machine 12. The pump enclosure 10 may be composed of an aluminum casting having cooling fins 13 extending from its outer surfaces. The removable connection may comprise screws (not shown) connecting the pump enclosure 10 to the transmitter 11.

Turning to FIG. 2, a horizontal drive shaft 14 is rotatable mounted near the top of the pump enclosure 10 in an intermediate bearing 15 and an end bearing 16. An apertured bearing cover 17 is connected to the outside of the pump enclosure 10 over the bearing port for the intermediate bearing 15 and a solid bearing cover 18 is connected to the outside of the pump enclosure It) over the bearing port for the end bearing 16. An end 19 of the horizontal drive shaft 14 projects through the aperture in the apertured bearing cover 17 and is rotatably connected to the drive shaft of the transmitter 11 for the sewing machine 12 by an Oldham coupling (not shown). A horizontal bevel gear 20 is connected to the horizontal drive shaft 14 inside the pump enclosure 10 by one or more setscrews 21.

Beneath the horizontal drive shaft 14, a pump 22 is mounted on a hardened metal bearing plate 23 on the floor of the pump enclosure 10 by means of screws 24. It is anticipated that other lubricant pressure producing means could be used to practice the invention in lieu of the pump 22.

The pump 22 comprises a pump outlet gear 25, a pump drive gear 26, and a pump inlet gear 27 connected to a vertical outlet shaft 28, a vertical drive shaft 29, and a vertical inlet shaft 30, respectively. A vertical bevel gear 31 is connected to the upper end of the vertical drive shaft by one or more setscrews 32 and intermeshes with the horizontal bevel gear 20 which is connected to the horizontal drive shaft 14. A washer 33 is interposed between the vertical bevel gear 31 and the top of the pump 22. The vertical drive shaft 29 has a reduced section 34 which forms a chamber inside the pump 22 in communication With lubrication ports 35 extending through the side of the pump 22.

The interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10 around the pump 22 serves as a reservoir for oil. An airtight transparent port 37 is provided in the inlet side 38 of the pump enclosure 10 for observing the level of oil in the interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10. A removable enclosure cover 39 is connected to the top of the pump enclosure 10 by means of screws 40, and a gasket 41 is provided between the enclosure cover 39 and the top of the pump enclosure 10 to hermetically seal the interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10. A filler cap (not shown) may be provided in the top of the enclosure cover 39 to serve as a means for adding oil to the reservoir in the interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a vertical outlet conduit 42 and a vertical outlet return conduit 43 extend below the pitch line of the pump outlet gear 25 and pump drive gear 26. A vertical inlet conduit 44 and a vertical inlet return conduit 45 extend below the pitch line of the pump drive gear 26 and the pump inlet gear 27. An oil filter 46 is connected to a side of the pump 22 in the interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10. The oil filter outlet 47 opens on the pitch line of the pump outlet gear 25 and the pump drive gear 26 directly over the top of the vertical outlet return conduit 43.

Returning to FIG. 2, a rotory bypass valve. 48 is confined in a bypass valve chamber 49 by a plug 50 and a bushing 51.The bypass valve 48 has an outlet bypass conduit 52 extending laterally therethrough and in communication with the vertical outlet conduit 42 and the vertical outlet return conduit 43 when the outlet bypass conduit 52 is oriented horizontally. An inlet bypass conduit 53 also extends laterally through the bypass valve 48 parallel to the outlet bypass conduit 52 and in communication with the vertical inlet conduit 44 and the vertical inlet return conduit 45 when the inlet bypass conduit 53 is oriented horizontally along with the outlet bypass conduit 52. Three 0 ring seals 54 extending around the bypass valve 48, isolate the outlet bypass conduit 52 and the inlet bypass conduit 53.

The pointed end 55 of the bypass valve 48 pivots in a recess in the plug 50, and the shaft end 56 of the bypass valve 48 has a crank 57 connected thereto by means of a setscrew 58. The arm 59 of the crank 57 is connected to one end of an actuating lever 60 for the transmitter 11 by a first connecting rod 61 as shown in FIG. 1. The actuating lever 60 is in turn connected to a treadle 62 for the sewing machine 12 by a second connecting rod 63.

Returning to FIG. 3, a horizontal outlet conduit 64 and a horizontal outlet return conduit 65 extend from the vertical outlet conduit 42 and the vertical outlet return conduit 43, respectively, to the outlet side 66 of the pump enclosure 10. A horizontal inlet conduit 67 and a horizontal inlet return conduit 68 extend from the vertical inlet conduit 44 and the vertical inlet return conduit 45,.respectively, to the inlet side 38 of the pump enclosure 10.

Returning to FIG. 1 a first right-angle pipe fitting 69 is connected to the end of the horizontal outlet conduit 64.

An outlet tube 70, which may be composed of plastic or any other suitable material, is connected to the first right-angle pipe fitting 69 and a lubricant reception means 71 inside the sewing machine 12. A pipe plug 72 is connected to the end of the horizontal outlet return conduit 65.

On the inlet side 38 of the pump enclosure 10, a straight pipe fitting 73 is connected to the end of the horizontal inlet conduit 67. An inlet tube 74 is connected to a sump means 75 inside the sewing machine 12 and the straight pipe fitting 73. A second right-angle pipe fitting 76 is connected to the end of the horizontal inlet return conduit 68 and a third right-angle pipe fitting 77 is connected to the enclosure cover 39. A recirculation tube 78 is connected to the second right-angle pipe fitting 76 and the third right-angle pipe fitting 77. Like the outlet tube 70, the inlet tube 74 and the recirculation tube 78 may also be composed of plastic or any other suitable material.

With reference to FIG. 4, a V-shaped outlet valve chamber 79 is formed near the outlet side 66 of the pump enclosure 10. The outlet branch 80 of the outlet valve chamber 79 is in communication with the horizontal outlet conduit 64 and the outlet return branch 81 of the outlet valve chamber 79 is in communication With the horizontal outlet return conduit 65. A first plug 82 is connected to the end of the outlet branch 80 and an adjustable ball check valve 83 is connected to the end of the outlet return branch 81.

The adjustable ball check valve 83 comprises a ball 84 biased against an opening at one end of the adjustable ball check valve 83 by a compression spring 85. A first screw plug 86 is screwed into the other end of the adjustable ball check valve 83 and bears against the compression spring 85. An 0 ring 87 extends around the first screw plug 86.

With reference to FIG. 5, a V-shaped inlet valve chamber 88 is formed near'the inlet side 38 of the pump enclosure 10. The inlet branch 89 of the inlet valve chamber 88 is in communication with the horizontal inlet conduit 67 and the inlet return branch 90 of the inlet valve chamber 88 is in communication with the horizontal inlet return conduit 68. A nonadjustable ball check valve 91 is connected to the end of the inlet branch 89 of the inlet valve chamber 88. The nonadjustable ball check valve 91 comprises a ball 92 held against an opening at one end of the nonadjustable ball check valve 91 by an inelastic tube 93. A second screw plug 94 is screwed into the other end of the nonadjustable ball check valve 91 and bears against the inelastic tube 93. An 0 ring 95 extends around the second screw plug 94. A second plug 96 is connected to the end of the inlet return branch 90 of the inlet valve chamber 88.

In operation, with reference to FIG. 2, the drive shaft (not shown) of the transmitter 11 drives the horizontal drive shaft 14 in the pump enclosure 10 through an Oldham coupling (not shown) in the direction indicated by a first arrow 97. The horizontal drive shaft 14 in turn drives the vertical drive shaft 29 through the horizontal bevel gear 20 and the vertical bevel gear 31 in the direction indicated by a second arrow 98 on the pump drive gear 26, as shown in FIG. 3. If the horizontal bevel gear 20 is connected to the horizontal drive shaft 14 on the other side of the vertical bevel gear 31, the pump drive gear 26 will be rotated in a direction opposite from that indicated by the second arrow 98. However, assuming that the horizontal bevel gear 20 is connected to the horizontal drive shaft 14 as shown, the pump outlet gear 25 and the pump inlet gear 27 will be driven by the pump drive gear 26 in the direction indicated by a third arrow 99 and a fourth arrow 100 thereon respectively. The continuous rotation of the pump drive gear 26 by the drive shaft (not shown) of the transmitter 11 causes the pump outlet gear 25 and the pump inlet gear 27 to produce constant lubricant pressure.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, oil will flow from the reservoir in the interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10 and through the oil filter 46 to the pitch line of the pump outlet gear 25 and the pump drive gear 26 by means of the oil filter outlet 47. From the pitch line of the pump outlet gear 25 and the pump drive gear 26, the oil will be transported around the periphery 101 of the pump outlet gear 25 to descend through the vertical outlet conduit 42. Since the rotation of the pump drive gear 26 creates an area of reduced pressure in the outlet bypass conduit 52, the oil will travel through the outlet bypass conduit 52 and up the vertical outlet return conduit 43 to be recirculated. A similar circulation occurs down through the vertical inlet conduit 44, through the inlet bypass conduit 53, up the vertical inlet return conduit 45, and around the periphery 102 of the pump inlet gear 27. The circulation of oil through the outlet bypass valve 52 and the inlet bypass valve 53 ensures that oil under pressure is ready for instant application to the lubricant reception means 71 of the sewing machine 12.

With reference to FIG. 1, if operation of the sewing machine 12 is now initiated by stepping on the treadle 62 to cause the second connecting rod 63 to pull down on the actuating lever 60 to cause power to be transmitted from the transmitter 11 to the sewing machine 12, simultaneously the actuating lever 60 will pull down on the first connecting rod 61 to pull the crank arm 59 down. The rotation of the crank arm 59 rotates the outlet bypass conduit 52 to cut off its communication with the vertical outlet conduit 42 and the vertical outlet return conduit 43 and rotates the inlet bypass conduit 53 to cut olf its communication with the vertical inlet conduit 44 and the vertical inlet return conduit 45 as shown in FIG. 3.

With the outlet bypass conduit 52 and the inlet bypass conduit 53 cut off, the oil in the vertical outlet conduit 42 will be forced out the horizontal outlet conduit 64 and through the outlet tube 70 to the lubricant reception means 71 in the sewing machine 12 already under pressure, as shown in FIG. 1. Oil which collects in the sump means 75 in the sewing machine 12 will be sucked through the inlet tube 74, through the horizontal inlet conduit 67, up the vertical inlet conduit 44, and around the periphery 102 of the pump inlet gear 27 to be forced down the vertical inlet return conduit 45, out the horizontal inlet return conduit 68, and through the recirculation tube 74 to the reservoir in the interior 36 of the pump enclosure 10, as shown in FIG. 3.

The adjustable ball check valve 83 is adjusted by tuming the first screw plug 86 to change the length of the compression spring 85, as shown in FIG. 4. Returning to FIG. 3, if the pressure of the oil forced out the horizontal outlet conduit 64 exceeds the preset pressure setting of the adjustable ball check valve 83, the compression spring 85 will be overcome and the oil exceeding the preset pressure will flow through the opening in the top of the adjustable ball check valve 83, back through the horizontal outlet return conduit 65, and upward through the vertical outlet return conduit 43 to be recirculated.

Thus, the continuous rotation of the pump drive gear 26 by the drive shaft (not shown) of the transmitter 11 causes the pump outlet gear 25 and the pump inlet gear 27 to produce constant lubricant pressure. The circulation of oil through the outlet bypass valve 52 and the inlet bypass valve 53 ensures that oil under pressure is ready for instant application to the lubricant reception means 71 of the sewing machine 12. The adjustable ball check valve 83 provides a means for setting a maximum constant pressure for the oil.

Although a device capable of practicing the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, What is claimed herein is:

1. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising lubricant pressure producing means, means for continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in said lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a conduit interconnected to the outlet of said lubricant pressure producing means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, and valve means connected to said conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

2. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising lubricant pressure producing means, means for continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in said lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a conduit interconnected to the outlet of said lubricant pressure producing means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, first valve means connected to said conduit to set the maximum pressure of lubricant from said lubricant pressure producing means, and second valve means connected to said conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

3. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising lubricant pressure producing means, means for continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in said lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a conduit interconnected to the outlet of said lubricant pressure producing means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, adjustable first valve means connected to said conduit to set the maximum pressure of lubricant from said lubricant pressure producing means, and second valve means connected to said conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

4. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising pump means, means for continuously maintainig lubricant pressure in said pump means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a conduit interconnected to the outlet of said pump means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, and valve means connected to said conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

5. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising pump means, means for continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in said pump means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a conduit interconnected to the outlet of said pump means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, first valve means connected to said conduit to set the maximum pressure of lubricant from said pump means and, second valve means connected to said conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

6. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising pump means, means for continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in said pump means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a conduit interconnected to the outlet of said pump means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, adjustable first valve means connected to said conduit to set the maximum pressure of lubricant from said pump means, and second valve means connected to said conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said conduit sirniultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

7. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means, sump means, and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising pump means, a reservoir for lubricant connected to said pump means, means for continuously operating said pump independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a first conduit interconnected to the outlet of said pump means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, valve means connected to said first conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said first conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine, and a second conduit interconnected to the sump means of said sewing machine and the inlet of said pump means.

8. A lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means, sump means, and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising pump means, a reservoir for lubricant connected to said pump means, means for continuously operating said pump independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a first conduit interconnected to the outlet of said pump means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, first valve means con- .7 I nected to said first conduit to set the maximum pressure of lubricant from said pump means, second valve means connected to said first conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said first conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine, and a second conduit interconnected to the sump means of said sewing machine and the inlet of said pump means.

.9. A, lubrication system for an intermittently operated sewing machine having lubricant reception means, sump means, and control means for initiating and terminating operation of said sewing machine, said lubrication system comprising pump means, a reservoir for lubricant connected to said pump means, means for continuously operating said pump independently of the operation of said sewing machine, a first conduit interconnected to'the outlet of said pump means and the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine, adjustable firstvalve means connected to said first condut to set the maximum pressure of lubricant from said pump means, second valve means connectedto said first conduit and to the control means of said sewing machine to initiate flow of lubricant through said first conduit simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine, and a second conduit interconnected to the sump means of said sewing machine and the inlet of said pump means.

10. The method of lubricating a sewing machine having lubricant reception means which comprises continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in a lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine and initiating flow of lubricant under pressure from the lubricant pressure producing means to the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

11. The method of lubricating a sewing machine having lubricant reception means which comprises continuously maintaining a preset constant lubricant pressure in a lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine and initiating flow of lubricant under preset constant pressure from the lubricant pressure producing means to the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine.

12. The method of lubricating a sewing machine having lubricant reception means and sump means which comprises continuously maintaining lubricant pressure in a lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, initiating flow of lubricant under pressure from the lubricant pressure producing means to the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine simultaneously with initiation of operation of said sewing machine, and recirculating lubricant from the sump means of said sewing machine to said lubricant pressure producing means.

13. The method of lubricating a sewing machine having lubricant reception means and sump means which comprises continuously maintaining preset constant lubricant pressure in a lubricant pressure producing means independently of the operation of said sewing machine, initiating flow of lubricant under preset constant pressure from the lubricant pressure producing means to the lubricant reception means of said sewing machine simultaneously with intiation of operation of said sewing machine, and recirculating lubricant from the sump means of said sewing machine to said lubricant pressure producing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,372,175 3/1945 Christensen 112-256 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner. 

